Ottakringer Vienna Lager 4Pk

Ottakringer Vienna Lager 4Pk is a 5.3% ABV Vienna-style lager packaged in four 500ml cans, brewed in the Austrian capital by one of the city's oldest breweries. Winner of a gold medal at the 2019 World Beer Awards and another at the 2017 Austrian Beer Challenge, this "Wiener Original" draws from a century-old Ottakringer recipe that honors the Vienna Lager tradition born in the city in 1841.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.3%  |  Origin: Vienna, Austria  |  Style: Vienna Lager  |  Brewery: Ottakringer Brauerei AG

Production & Heritage

Ottakringer Brauerei AG has been brewing in Vienna's 16th district — the Ottakring neighborhood from which it takes its name — since 1837. This Vienna Lager is built on a base of Viennese malt and melanoidin malt, the latter contributing deeper amber color and richer malt complexity, balanced by fine Saaz noble hops sourced from the Czech Republic. The recipe reportedly dates back over a century in the Ottakringer archives, making it a direct descendant of the Vienna Lager tradition that originated in the Austrian capital during the mid-19th century.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Opens with warm caramel malt and a delicate nuttiness. Beneath that, subtle honey sweetness mingles with light herbal and floral impressions from the Saaz hops.

Taste: The entry is smooth and malt-forward, with caramel and toasted grain flavors arriving first. Mid-palate brings gentle citrus — hints of mandarin orange and tangerine — before a restrained herbal bitterness emerges. Melanoidin malt adds bready depth that keeps the body substantial without heaviness.

Finish: Medium in length with a gently brisk, slightly drying close. A distinct but palatable bitterness lingers alongside faint earthy and mildly woody impressions from the Saaz hops.

How to Drink Ottakringer Vienna Lager

Pour into a tall pilsner glass or Viennese-style tumbler at 45–48°F to let the malt complexity open up fully; straight from the can works for casual drinking, but the aroma rewards glassware. A Radler (half lager, half sparkling lemonade) plays off the beer's caramel sweetness with bright citrus for a refreshing summer serve. In a Michelada, the toasty malt backbone holds up against lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire without losing its character. It also works in a Beer Cheese Fondue base, where the nutty, bready grain flavors melt naturally into melted Gruyère or Emmental.

Best For

• Introducing a beer enthusiast to the historic Vienna Lager style from its city of origin
• Pairing with Austrian or Central European cuisine like Wiener Schnitzel and roast pork
• Building a craft import selection with award-winning Old World classics
• Autumn gatherings and Oktoberfest-season celebrations

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ottakringer Vienna Lager taste like? It is smooth and malt-driven with caramel, honey, and toasted grain flavors accented by subtle mandarin citrus and a clean, balanced bitterness from Saaz noble hops.

How does Ottakringer Vienna Lager compare to a German Märzen? Both styles share amber color and malt-forward profiles, but Vienna Lager tends toward a lighter body and drier finish than the fuller, sweeter Märzen beers typically served at Oktoberfest. Ottakringer's use of Saaz hops also gives it a more herbal, floral hop character compared to the earthier German varieties in most Märzen recipes.

Is Ottakringer Vienna Lager good for craft beer beginners? Its gentle bitterness, smooth malt backbone, and balanced finish make it approachable for newcomers while still delivering enough layered complexity to hold the interest of experienced drinkers.

Where is Ottakringer Vienna Lager made? It is brewed at the Ottakringer Brauerei AG in Vienna's 16th district (Ottakring), Austria, a brewery that has been operating on the same site since 1837.

What foods pair well with Ottakringer Vienna Lager? Wiener Schnitzel, where the malt sweetness complements crispy breading; roast pork, whose caramelized edges echo the beer's toasty notes; Gruyère or Emmental cheese, which amplify shared nutty flavors; soft pretzels with mustard for a classic Central European match; and roasted root vegetables, whose earthy sweetness mirrors the beer's melanoidin malt character.

What sizes does Ottakringer Vienna Lager come in? This product is available as a 4-pack of 500ml cans, totaling 2 liters of beer.

Is Ottakringer Vienna Lager worth the price? It positions as a well-priced import lager that delivers genuine Old World brewing heritage and gold medal-winning quality, representing strong value within the craft import beer category.

Why Ottakringer Vienna Lager?

The Vienna Lager style was born in the Austrian capital in 1841, and Ottakringer — brewing in Vienna since 1837 — carries that legacy forward with a recipe drawn from its own century-old archives. Gold medals at the 2019 World Beer Awards and the 2017 Austrian Beer Challenge confirm the beer holds up against international competition. The combination of Viennese malt, melanoidin malt, and Czech Saaz hops produces a layered yet sessionable lager that sits comfortably between pale lagers and darker European amber styles. For anyone seeking one of beer history's foundational styles from a brewery rooted in the city where it all started, Ottakringer's Wiener Original is a legitimate and award-backed choice.